2023 | ISSUE 3 | SJC Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS TERM 1

Every day CUT THE WRAP

Wednesday 15 March Enviroservice (3:30pm – 5:30pm)

Friday 24 March National Ride to School Day

Saturday 25 March Earth Hour 8:30pm-9:30pm (Global event)

Tuesday 28 March SJC “Switch Off” hour – Time TBC

“30 for 30” CHALLENGE – NATIONAL SCHOOLS CLEAN UP DAY

On Friday 3 March, 30 students volunteered 30 minutes of their lunchtime to clean the grounds in support of National Schools Clean Up Day. Participants registered with great enthusiasm and worked industriously to pick up any litter they could find. Several student reflections of their experience are below.

After spending 30 minutes cleaning up the school grounds, I was reminded of the importance of taking care of our environment. It's easy to forget how much impact we have on the world around us, but seeing the amount of litter and debris scattered across even just a small section of land made me realize how crucial it is that we all do our part in keeping our surroundings clean.

Not only does having a clean environment create a more pleasant atmosphere for everybody, it makes you feel good after contributing to help clean our community. A clean environment also promotes good health.

Sam O (Year 7A)

I enjoyed participating in the “30 for 30” Challenge. It was fun walking around the school picking up rubbish with my friends. It was a great feeling knowing that we were doing good for the school. I was also very happy afterwards because we got rewarded with a $5 canteen voucher. Thank you Ms Jenkins for giving me the chance to participate.

George G (Year 7K)

The experience was to help clean up the school to make it look like a nicer place by using plastic claws or tongs to pick rubbish up and put it in a bag. The reason I did it was to help the school become a nicer and better place for everyone in it and I had fun while doing it.

George M (Year 7I)

So, what we did is that we got a claw and some bags to put the rubbish in. Then we waked around the school picking up rubbish for half an hour. Then after half an hour we walked back to the PAC and put the bags of rubbish in a trolley. Then we got rewarded with an Eddie Coin and 30 minutes of Service Learning.

Lachlan V ( Year 7C)

NATIONAL CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY

On Sunday 5 March, thousands of volunteers from various posts across Australia, set aside a few hours to remove rubbish from public areas. Once again, St Joseph’s and Sacred Hart students and families, joined the “Friends” of Waurn Ponds Creek to help "Clean Up" the embankments surrounding the Waurn Ponds Creek, extending from the shopping centre to the baseball oval, swimming complex, skatepark and surrounding areas. These efforts are twofold, as it not only creates an improved aesthetic, it also serves a greater purpose to help improve the habitat for the threatened and vulnerable endemic native Yarra Pigmy Perch, only found in the Waurn Ponds and Thompson Creeks. I would like to thank and acknowledge the following SJC and SHC families; Conroy, Ficca, Kustera, Habibi, Mendoza, Roth and Salmon for their efforts on the day.

If you are interested in joining the community group, they gather on a fortnightly basis and new volunteers are always welcome. For more information, use the link below to view their website; https://www.friendsofwaurnpondscreek.org.au/

Deputy School Captain review:

Finally, for the first time in several weeks I had a brief moment of peace after a full week of SAC work, though I soon figured that I get quite bored and it was time for a challenge, that’s when my homeroom teacher Mr. Darley mentioned the Cleanup Australia day at the Waurn Ponds Creek which was close by to where I live and ticked off a good three hours of service learning. Being someone that is passionate and fond of the local landscape, I jumped at the opportunity.

The day started at nine in the morning when I rocked up and met the lovely members of the local “Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek”, a passionate group of people cleaning the local waterways all year long. I got to cleaning straight away at the creek surprised by how lovely the environment was. You’d never expect for a mall and skate park to be just down the road. Here I met James Kustera, a Year 8 student who is a legend and we pulled out a shopping trolley, scooter and bike from the creek. I was thrilled to see a meter-long eel in the notably clear water as well as a few of the threatened Yara Pigmy Perch that are exclusive to the Waurn Ponds area. After stopping to enjoy the wildlife, I headed back for a tea break with everyone. Through another hour of cleaning and falling in mud we were finished and had collected a full skip of rubbish and about 10 shopping trolleys. I had a great time meeting the others and cleaning the beautiful local creek. Thanks to Ms Jenkins for the opportunity; I hope to be back next year.

Jesse C (Year 12)

YR 10 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

In recent weeks, each of the three Year 10 Environmental Science classes have visited the Barwon River to complete a River Health Report, as part of their studies in their Current Ecosystems unit, learning about local ecosystems. Blessed with good weather, each class was successful in conducting a Riparian Habitat Survey, Macroinvertebrate study and Physical and Chemical Testing of the water. Over the past week, their efforts have been concentrated on learning more about a particular indigenous flora species growing in the College grounds and are working toward the completion of a short video to be incorporated into an interactive naming plaque for their species. It is anticipated that the plaques will be distributed around the gardens next term. I would like to thank the Laboratory technicians; Stephanie Ardiri and Jack Hockley Samon for their assistance with collection of macroinvertebrates and water testing.

SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP

We are now calling on new students with a passion for the environment and motivation to drive change, to join the Sustainability Team.

We are seeking representatives from each Year 7 Homeroom and new members from other year levels are also welcome! Interested students are encouraged to complete the online application via the link below. The Term 1 Sustainability Meeting schedule is outlined in the student bulletin on a weekly basis and new members are welcome to participate. Attendance at each meeting will count for 30 minutes of Service Learning.

SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP APPLICATION LINK:

https://www.sjc.vic.edu.au/future-families/learning-at-sjc/sustainability

Scheduled meetings will alternate between campuses. Further details pertaining to each Sustainability events will be published in the school bulletin.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

EASTERN BEACH CLEAN UP – SATURDAY 25 MARCH - SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

The 3220 Beach Patrol Geelong group have scheduled a one-hour beach “Clean-up”, commencing at 9am on Saturday 25 March.

Volunteers are to meet at the east end of the lawn adjacent to the playground. The clean-up will extend east to Limeburner’s Point, west to the Ferris Wheel and south to the Hearne Sreet Car Park. Reusable bags and claws will be supplied. Participants are to bring their own gloves.

For more information and to register your interest, visit the 3220 Beach Patrol Group on Facebook.

Article by Kelly Jenkins - Sustainability Coordinator